PERMANENT RULES
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
Date of Adoption: [April 8, 2004.]
Purpose: To make minor changes to help distinguish the petition process from the appeals process under chapter 415-08 WAC.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 415-04-040.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.50.050(5).
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 04-05-017 on February 9, 2004.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making:
New 0,
Amended 0,
Repealed 0;
Pilot Rule Making:
New 0,
Amended 0,
Repealed 0;
or Other Alternative Rule Making:
New 0,
Amended 0,
Repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule:
Thirty-one days after filing.
April 8, 2004
John F. Charles
Director
OTS-6916.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-18-018, filed 8/24/01,
effective 9/24/01)
WAC 415-04-040
What will the department do after
receiving my petition?
(1) A petition examiner will review
your petition.
(2) Within fourteen days from the date that you file a petition with the department, the petition examiner will determine whether you have a sufficient stake in the outcome of the proceeding to have the department consider the issues in your petition.
(a) If the petition examiner determines that you do not have a sufficient stake in the outcome, the petition examiner:
(i) May refer the matter back to the plan administrator for further investigation.
(ii) Will notify you of this decision within fourteen days of the date you file the petition. You may appeal this decision to the presiding officer under WAC 415-04-050.
(b) If the petition examiner determines that you do have a sufficient stake in the outcome, the petition examiner:
(i) Will notify interested parties, such as the member, current or former employer(s), designated beneficiaries, former spouse or the department, that you filed a petition;
(ii) Will request that the interested parties submit any written response to the petition no later than twenty days from the date of receipt of the notice;
(iii) May extend the time limit for response if the interested party shows a good reason to need more time.
(3) The petition examiner may request additional information at any time.
(4) The petition examiner will forward a copy of an interested party's response to you.
(a) You will have ten days to reply.
(b) The petition examiner may extend your time to respond if you demonstrate that you need more time for good reason.
(c) If an extension is not granted and you do not reply within ten days, you waive the right to reply.
(5) The petition examiner will issue a written decision within sixty days of:
(a) The end of your final period to reply under subsection (4) of this section; or
(b) Receipt of additional information from the department or the office of the attorney general necessary to make a decision.
(6) ((The written decision will include the findings of
fact and conclusions of law necessary to decide the matter. The decision will be sent to you and to other interested
parties.)) In the written decision, the petition examiner will
state facts and sources of law used to make the decision. The
petition examiner will send a copy to you and to the other
parties.
(7) The petition examiner may refer the petition back to the plan administrator for an administrative determination without issuing a petition decision if:
(a) The petition adds new issues or facts that have not been addressed in the plan administrator's final determination; or
(b) The plan administrator did not have access to a petition decision or final order of the department that would have changed the outcome of the administrative determination.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050(5), 41.50.050, 41.50.060. 01-18-018, § 415-04-040, filed 8/24/01, effective 9/24/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.50.050 and 41.50.780(11). 96-16-020, § 415-04-040, filed 7/29/96, effective 7/29/96.]